Sally Pressly and her son, Zach Ballmer, 12, pose in their flood-damaged kitchen. The Pressly-Ballmer family is celebrating its last Christmas at this home, but Pressly plans on cooking just as much as she always does, even in the reduced kitchen. TERESA PRINCE/The Globe Gazette
“It’s quite the thing. No Christmas tree at Grandma’s house anymore,” said MaryJo Burkgren.
The home at 1046 Second St. N.E., which has been in the Burgess family for 58 years, is one of 17 flood-damaged properties slated for demolition by the city.
The force of the floodwaters and the saturated ground left several homes on the street including the Burgess property with gaping holes where basement walls used to be.
“It’s tough to think we won’t be going there for Christmas anymore,” Burkgren said.
The home was built by Burkgren’s father, Charles Burgess. Her uncle Keith Burgess and cousin Denise Burgess, who are both disabled, were living in the home at the time of the flood.
“They live in an apartment now and they can’t have animals.
“They had up to five cats at the house. The cats were a big part of their lives,” Burkgren said.
The two cats that were left were taken to the Humane Society.
“They have found peace. But it’s been quite an adjustment for them.”
Sally Pressly and her husband, Tom Ballmer, live at 671 Seventh St. N.E.
The Christmas lights on their home shine even brighter this year since theirs is one of the only homes on the street with outdoor lights.
The family’s Christmas decorations, including outdoor lights, were high and dry in the attic while many flood victims lost decorations when their basements filled with water.
This may be the last Christmas the couple and their three children spend in the house after applying for a buyout.
“We always go cut down our Christmas tree and we have real tall ceilings in this house. I don’t think our next house will have such tall ceilings,” Pressly paused with a wistful sigh. “We’ll get smaller trees. This year I got two trees just because I could do it and I have the space for it.”
Ballmer, executive director of Stebens Children’s Theatre, and Pressly, a teacher at the theater, had five feet of water in their garage, kitchen, entryway and breakfast nook.
The basement was flooded to just below the first floor.
The couple chose not to rebuild their kitchen. A makeshift cooking center with plywood cabinets will serve the family until it moves out.
This will be a special Christmas. The entire family including Pressly’s parents from North Carolina will be spending the holidays in Mason City.
“I’m really glad we get to do that. There’s so many families that left their homes on the day of the flood that didn’t get to return,” Pressly said.
This may be the last holiday season in their Hampshire Avenue home for Jim and Ann Kuhlman.
The couple have lived at 722 N. Hampshire Ave. since 1981.
“We had our Christmas tree in the basement so we lost that. But we actually think we got a better tree this year. Fortunately our decorations were upstairs. We were fortunate that way,” Ann said.
“We had two feet of water in our detached garage. Fifteen inches in our dining room area because our dining room is three steps below the main level. We didn’t have damage in the main level. The finished basement was a total loss.”
Kuhlman’s office was in the basement.
“We went out the day it flooded and because of the evacuation that made the most sense. We moved to three different places and got back in the house on July 31,” Ann said.
“We’re very thankful for all of the friends and family and church family who responded to our needs. They moved us in and out of everywhere. They came in and disinfected our dining room. The different people who cleaned and worked and made it possible for us to get back in — we really appreciate it.”
Ann Kuhlman has channeled her experience into action. She has become a vocal advocate for flood prevention.
She wants residents trained to keep track of snow and rainfall totals which can help predict a flood.
“I really think it is important for us to be prepared and be prepared early,” she said.
Kuhlman said the flooding of the city’s water treatment plant was an economic disaster.
“I am trying as much as possible in whatever way I can to help prevent this kind of thing from happening again.”
Trauma victims still feeling stress
MASON CITY — The holidays can be a wonderful time of year filled with celebrations and joy. But for many Iowans, this year’s holiday season will be an especially challenging time.
Although it’s been six months since so many lives were affected by devastating floods, storms and tornados, many survivors continue to experience the trauma.
“Continually dealing with ongoing red tape, financial problems and endless rebuilding and repair work takes a real toll on disaster survivors,” said Bill Gardam, administrator of the Mental Health and Disability Services division of the Department of Human Services. “When you add in the financial, emotional and physical stress of the holidays, it’s not surprising for survivors to have intensified feelings of sadness, depression, frustration, anger and anxiety.”
Recognize the warning signs of stress in your family.
Just as it takes time to reconstruct buildings, it takes time to rebuild lives. But if you and your family need extra help, don’t hesitate to seek out crisis counseling.
Here are some warning signs to look for in yourself and your family:
1. Problems getting to sleep or staying asleep; isolating or withdrawing from others; avoiding activities, places, or even people who remind one of the disaster events; an increase or decrease in normal appetite.
2. Feeling a loss of interest in everyday activities; feeling a sense of despair, hopelessness or emptiness about the future; feeling depressed, sad, or down much of the time.
3. Difficulty making decisions; frequently replaying the events and circumstances of the disaster.
4. Children will show signs of stress through “clinging” behavior; sleep disturbances such as nightmares; behavior problems; withdrawal from family and friends; and physical complaints such as stomachaches, headaches, or dizziness.
5. Problems with drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, addictive behaviors and domestic unrest or violence can also emerge during especially stressful times.
You can help your family cope with stress by listening.
Spend time with the traumatized person. There is no substitute for personal presence.
Offer assistance and sympathy. Voiced support is critical.
Re-assure children, the elderly and even adults that they are safe.
Don’t tell traumatized people that they are “lucky it wasn’t worse.” Instead tell them that you’re sorry such an event has occurred and that you want to understand and help them.
Respect a family member’s need for privacy and private grief.
Seek professional help if you need it. Despite your best efforts, you may find yourself or family members feeling persistently sad or anxious, bothered by physical complaints, unable to sleep, irritable and hopeless, and unable to face routine chores. Don’t try to deal with this alone.
Cerro Gordo County is one of 30 Iowa counties designated to receive free crisis counseling services through Project Recovery Iowa.
The Iowa Concern Hotline is the entry point for Project Recovery Iowa services. Call the Iowa Concern Hotline at 1-800-447-1985. Confidential counseling is available 24/7. Counselors can provide immediate assistance and will make referrals if needed. For more information, visit the Department of Human Services Web site at www.dhs.state.ia.us. See the crisis counseling link on the front page.
